Hybrid air conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hybrid air conditioning apparatus includes a first air conditioning device and a second air conditioning device. The first air conditioning device is a cooling and heating air conditioner, and the second air conditioning device communicates with the first air conditioning device. Air modulated by the second air conditioning device is sent to the first air conditioning device for cooling and heating air adjustment. Accordingly, the air discharged from the first air conditioning device has enhanced quality and all kinds of properties in the air are provided uniformly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus and, in particular, to a hybrid air conditioning apparatus mainly including a cooling and heating air conditioner.

BACKGROUND

Regarding air conditioners, at present there are an air conditioner (AC), an air cleaner (CLR), and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The cooling and heating air conditioner can adjust temperature of air, the air purifier can purify the air, and the energy recovery ventilator can carry out temperature or/and humidity adjustment according to operations of other air conditioners.

However, each of the above-mentioned air conditioners operates independently, so each air conditioner provides its functions independently, which leading to an additional increase in power consumption and a waste in space. Moreover, a variety of air properties, such as temperature, moisture, and carbon dioxide concentration, can only be controlled separately, so it is unable to achieve uniformity of the air properties.

Accordingly, the inventor aims to solve the above problems, on the basis of which the present invention is accomplished.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid air conditioning apparatus, wherein the final discharge air quality output from the first air conditioning device is enhanced by using a second air conditioning device (e.g. an air purifier or an energy recovery ventilator) in communication with a first air conditioning device (i.e. a cooling and heating air conditioner).

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hybrid air conditioning apparatus, comprising: a first air conditioning device, the first air conditioning device being a cooling and heating air conditioner; a second air conditioning device in communication with the first air conditioning device, air modulated by the second air conditioning device being sent to the first air conditioning device for cooling and heating air adjustment, so that the air quality output from the first air conditioning device is enhanced.

Compared with conventional techniques, the present invention enhances the final discharge air quality output from the first air conditioning device, and a variety of air properties are provided uniformly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description, and the drawings given herein below is for illustration only, and thus does not limit the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic planar view according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic planar view according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic planar view according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic planar view according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions and technical contents of the present invention are illustrated below in conjunction with the accompany drawings. However, it is to be understood that the descriptions and the accompany drawings disclosed herein are merely illustrative and exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention provides a hybrid air conditioning apparatus mainly includes a cooling and heating air conditioner, and further includes one other air conditioning device communicating with the cooling and heating air conditioner so as to enhance air quality output therefrom, reduce power consumption, reduce waste in space, make all kinds of air properties (e.g. temperature, moisture and carbon dioxide concentration) provided uniformly. FIGS. 1 to 4 are schematic planar views according to the first to the fourth embodiments of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1, showing a hybrid air conditioning apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus includes a first air conditioning device and a second air conditioning device. The first air conditioning device is a cooling and heating air conditioner 1 (alternatively called: air conditioner), and the second air conditioning device is an air purifier 2 (alternatively called: air cleaner).

The air purifier 2 is in communication with the cooling and heating air conditioner 1. In other words, an outlet end 22 of the air purifier 2 communicates with an intake end 11 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1. As a result, outside fresh air is purified by the air purifier 2 first, and then the purified clean air is sent to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 for cooling and heating air adjustment. To be specific, the outside fresh air is introduced into the air purifier 2 from an intake end 21 thereof After the incoming fresh air is purified, it is sent to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 via the outlet end 22 of the air purifier 2 and the intake end 11 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1, so that the purified air from the air purifier 2 is converted to cooled air or heated air, and the cooled air or the heated air is then discharged from an outlet end 12.

The cooling and heating air conditioner 1 includes a first wind blowing power 15, and the air purifier 2 includes a second wind blowing power 25. The cooling and heating air conditioner 1 and the air purifier 2 communicate with each other in series by means of the intake end 21 and the outlet end 22 of the air purifier 2, and the intake end 11 and the outlet end 12 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1. The air purifier 2 sends the purified clean air to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 by the second wind blowing power 25, and besides this, the first wind blowing power 15 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can decrease by means of the second wind blowing power 25. In other words, under the premise of the same lift (i.e. the longest distance which the air can be sent to by the hybrid air conditioning apparatus), since the second wind blowing power 25 imparts a force to the first wind blowing power 15, the first wind blowing power 15 of the first air conditioning device 1 can decrease, or alternatively the second wind blowing power 25 of the air purifier 2 can decrease—it depends on which wind blowing power 15, 25 consumes larger power. That is to say, the wind blowing power consuming larger power is selected to decrease so as to reduce power consumption.

By combining the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 and the air purifier 2 into one and communicating them with each other, the present invention further provides the following functions:

-   -   1. The air sent to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 is         the clean air passing through and purified by the air purifier         2, and concentration of a substance in the air can be reduced         via the air purifier 2. Therefore, the cooling and heating air         conditioner 1 can operate in the clean air for a long time, and         as a result, a lot of filters of the cooling and heating air         conditioner 1 can be saved to lower costs. The substance can be,         for example, a total volatile organic compound (TVOC),         Formaldehyde, and particulate matters.     -   2. Furthermore, the cooling and heating air conditioner 1         includes an evaporator 16 and a humidifier 17, wherein the         evaporator 16 can adjust temperature and humidity, and the         humidifier 17 can adjust humidity. Therefore, the cooling and         heating air conditioner 1 can perform second adjustment for the         incoming clean air from the air purifier 2 by means of the         evaporator 16 or/and the humidifier 17, detailed as follows:         -   a) The cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can humidify             the incoming clean air from the air purifier 2 by means of             the evaporator 16 or/and the humidifier 17, so as to             increase the humidity of the air finally discharged.         -   b) The cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can heat the             incoming clean air from the air purifier 2 by means of the             evaporator 16, thus resulting in an increase in the             temperature of the air finally discharged. Certainly, the             temperature and the humidity of the air finally discharged             can both increase at the same time by the hybrid air             conditioning apparatus of the present invention.     -   3. The cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can make the         substance attached by means of moisture on a surface of the         evaporator 16, thereby resulting in second air filtering (i.e.         second air purification) and lowering the concentration of the         substance in the air, consequently further purifying the air         sent to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 to enhance the         final discharge air quality.

Please refer to FIG. 2, showing a hybrid air conditioning apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment with the difference that the second air conditioning device is not the air purifier 2 in the first embodiment, detailed as follows.

The hybrid air conditioning apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention also includes a first air conditioning device and a second air conditioning device. The first air conditioning device is also a cooling and heating air conditioner 1, and the second air conditioning device is an energy recovery ventilator 3 instead.

The energy recovery ventilator 3 performs extra adjustment in temperature or/and humidity according to operations of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1. Therefore, the energy recovery ventilator 3 can send the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 for the cooling and heating air adjustment.

The energy recovery ventilator 3 is in communication with the cooling and heating air conditioner 1. That is to say, the intake end 11 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 communicates with an outlet end 32 of the energy recovery ventilator 3. Accordingly, the outside fresh air can be modulated by the energy recovery ventilator 3 first, and the modulated air is then sent to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 for the cooling and heating air adjustment. To be specific, the outside fresh air is introduced into the energy recovery ventilator 3 from an intake end 31 thereof, and after the incoming fresh air is adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity by the energy recovery ventilator 3, the air is then sent to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 via the outlet end 32 of the energy recovery ventilator 3 and the intake end 11 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1. Thus, the air adjusted in the temperature and the humidity from the energy recovery ventilator 3 is converted into cooled air or heated air to be discharged from the outlet end 12.

By combining the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 and the energy recovery ventilator 3 into one and communicating them with each other, the present invention further provides the following functions.

-   -   1. The energy recovery ventilator 3 introduces in fresh air with         a low carbon dioxide content from outside, the energy recovery         ventilator 3 sends the incoming fresh air to the cooling and         heating air conditioner 1, and the cooling and heating air         conditioner 1 adjusts the fresh air in the temperature or/and         the humidity, so it is efficient and quick to enhance the air         quality.     -   2. Since the energy recovery ventilator 3 can effect precooling         and preheating and send the precooled or preheated air to the         first air conditioner 1, the first cooling and heating air         conditioner 1 correspondingly performs the cooling and heating         air adjustment for the precooled or preheated air. In other         words, in all of the above-mentioned modulation methods of the         second embodiment, the energy recovery ventilator 3 is employed         to effect precooling or preheating of the air to be sent to the         cooling and heating air conditioner 1. As a result, good air         quality is provided, and besides this, there is a great saving         in power consumption when the cooling and heating air         conditioner 1 adjusts temperature for the final discharge air.     -   3. Furthermore, the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can         further include an evaporator 16 and a humidifier 17. The         evaporator 16 can adjust the temperature and the humidity, and         the humidifier 17 can adjust the humidity. Therefore, the         cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can perform extra, second         adjustment for the incoming air from the energy recovery         ventilator 3 via the evaporator 16 or/and the humidifier 17,         detailed as follows.         -   a) The cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can humidify             the incoming air adjusted in the temperature or/and the             humidity from the energy recovery ventilator 3 via the             evaporator 16 or/and the humidifier 17, thereby causing the             extra, second adjustment in the humidity for the final             discharge air.         -   b) The cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can heat the             incoming air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity             from the energy recovery ventilator 3 via the evaporator 16,             thereby causing second adjustment in the temperature for the             final discharge air. Certainly, the hybrid air conditioning             apparatus of the present invention can make second             adjustment of the final discharge air in the temperature and             the humidity at the same time.     -   4. The energy recovery ventilator 3 can filter the incoming air,         and the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 can make a         substance in the air attached by means of moisture formed on a         surface of the evaporator 16, thereby causing second filtering         of the air (i.e. second air purification) and reducing         concentration of the substance in the air, so that the air sent         to the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 is further         purified, and the final discharge air quality is enhanced.

Please refer to FIG. 3 which shows the hybrid air conditioning apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment with the difference that the third embodiment further includes a third air conditioning device, detailed as follows.

The hybrid air conditioning apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes: a first air conditioning device, a second air conditioning device and a third air conditioning device. The first air conditioning device is also a cooling and heating air conditioner 1, the second air conditioning device is an air purifier 2, and the third air conditioning device is an energy recovery ventilator 3.

In the third embodiment, the air purifier 2 communicates between the cooling and heating air conditioner 1 and the energy recovery ventilator 3 to be connected in series with each other. Therefore, the outside fresh air is introduced in from an intake end 31 of the energy recovery ventilator 3, the incoming fresh air is adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity by the energy recovery ventilator 3, and then is sent to the air purifier 2 via the outlet end 32 of the energy recovery ventilator 3 and the intake end 21 of the air purifier 2. The air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity sent to the air purifier 2 is purified by the air purifier 2, and then is sent to the cooling and heating air conditioning device 1 via the outlet end 22 of the air purifier 2 and the intake end 11 of the cooling and heating air conditioning device 1, so that the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity and purified is converted into cooled air or heated air to be discharged from the outlet end 12.

By combining the cooling and heating air conditioner 1, the air purifier 2, and the energy recovery ventilator 3 into one, and making them connected in series with each other, the third embodiment provides all of the functions mentioned in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and a detailed description of the functions is omitted herein for brevity.

Please refer to FIG. 4, showing the hybrid air conditioning apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is similar to the third embodiment but has different connection configuration, detailed as follows.

The hybrid air conditioning apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention also includes: a first air conditioning device, a second air conditioning device, and a third air conditioning device. The first air conditioning device is also a cooling and heating air conditioner 1, the second air conditioning device is also an air purifier 2, and the third air conditioning device is also an energy recovery ventilator 3.

In the fourth embodiment, the air purifier 2 and the energy recovery ventilator 3 are connected in parallel and each are in communication with the cooling and heating air conditioner 1. Therefore, among the intake end 11 and the outlet end 12 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1, and the intake end 21 and the outlet end 22 of the air purifier 2, the connection configuration is the same and achieves the same functions as the first embodiment, so a detailed description in this regard is omitted herein for brevity. Moreover, among the intake end 11 and the outlet end 12 of the cooling and heating air conditioner 1, and the intake end 31 and the outlet end 32 of the energy recovery ventilator 3, the connection configuration is the same and achieves the same functions as the second embodiment, so a detailed description in this regard is omitted therein for brevity.

Furthermore, according to the first to fourth embodiments mentioned above, the hybrid air conditioning apparatus can further include a housing 100. The first air conditioning device (the cooling and heating air conditioner 1) and the second air conditioning device (the air purifier 2 or the energy recovery ventilator 3) are both disposed in the housing 100, or alternatively the three devices—the first air conditioning device (the cooling and heating air conditioner 1), the second air conditioning device (the air purifier 2), and the third air conditioning device (the energy recovery ventilator 3)—are all disposed in the housing 100; however, the present invention is not limited to having the housing 100 as a must, as the present invention can be carried out when all foregoing conditioning devices 1, 2, 3 are in communication with each other.

It is to be understood that the above descriptions are merely the preferable embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Equivalent changes and modifications made in the spirit of the present invention are regarded as falling within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hybrid air conditioning apparatus, comprising: a first air conditioning device, the first air conditioning device being a cooling and heating air conditioner, and a second air conditioning device, the second air conditioning device communicating with the first air conditioning device, air modulated by the second air conditioning device being sent to the first air conditioning device for cooling and heating air adjustment to enhance quality of the air discharged from the first air conditioning device.
 2. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second air conditioning device is an air purifier, and the second air conditioning device sends the purified air to the first air conditioning device for the cooling and heating air adjustment.
 3. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first air conditioning device includes a first wind blowing power, the second air conditioning device includes a second wind blowing power, the second air conditioning device sends the purified air to the first air conditioning device by the second wind blowing power, and the first wind blowing power of the first air conditioning device decreases by means of the second wind blowing power.
 4. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator, and the first air conditioning device makes a substance in the air attached by means of moisture formed on a surface of the evaporator, so that concentration of the substance is reduced to further purify the air sent to the first air conditioning device.
 5. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator and a humidifier, and the first air conditioning device humidifies the incoming clean air from the second air conditioning device by means of the evaporator or/and the humidifier.
 6. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first air conditioning device heats the incoming clean air from the second air conditioning device by means of the evaporator.
 7. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a third air conditioning device, the third air conditioning device being an energy recovery ventilator, the second air conditioning device and the third air conditioning device being connected in parallel and each being in communication with the first air conditioning device, or alternatively the second air conditioning device communicating between the first air conditioning device and the third air conditioning device to be connected in series with each other.
 8. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third air conditioning device performs extra adjustment in temperature or/and humidity according to operations of the first air conditioning device, and the third air conditioning device sends the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity to the first air conditioning device for the cooling and heating air adjustment.
 9. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator and a humidifier, and the first air conditioning device humidifies the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity and coming in from the third air conditioning device by means of the evaporator or/and the humidifier.
 10. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator and a humidifier, and the first air conditioning device heats the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity and coming in from the third air conditioning device by means of the evaporator.
 11. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the third air conditioning device introduces in fresh air having a low carbon dioxide content from outside, the third air conditioning device sends the incoming fresh air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning device effects second adjustment in the temperature or/and the humidity for the fresh air.
 12. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator, and the first air conditioning device makes a substance in the air attached by means of moisture formed on a surface of the evaporator, so that concentration of the substance is reduced to further purify the air sent to the first air conditioning device.
 13. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third air conditioning device effects precooling and preheating and sends the precooled or preheated air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning devices performs the cooling and heating air adjustment for the precooled or preheated air to thereby reduce power consumption.
 14. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second air conditioning device is an energy recovery ventilator, the second air conditioning device performs extra adjustment in temperature or/and humidity according to operations of the first air conditioning device, and the second air conditioning device sends the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity to the first air conditioning device for the cooling and heating air adjustment.
 15. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator and a humidifier, and the first air conditioning device humidifies the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity and coming in from the second air conditioning device by means of the evaporator or/and the humidifier.
 16. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator and a humidifier, and the first air conditioning device heats the air adjusted in the temperature or/and the humidity and coming in from the second air conditioning device by means of the evaporator.
 17. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second air conditioning device introduces in fresh air having a low carbon dioxide content from outside, the second air conditioning device sends the incoming fresh air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning device effects adjustment in the temperature or/and the humidity again for the fresh air.
 18. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first air conditioning device includes an evaporator, and the first air conditioning device makes a substance in the air attached by means of moisture formed on a surface of the evaporator, so that concentration of the substance is reduced to purify the air sent to the first air conditioning device.
 19. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second air conditioning device effects precooling and preheating and sends the precooled or preheated air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning device performs the cooling and heating air adjustment for the precooled or preheated air to thereby reduce power consumption.
 20. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second air conditioning device effects precooling and preheating and sends the precooled or preheated air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning device performs the cooling and heating air adjustment for the precooled or preheated air to thereby reduce power consumption.
 21. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second air conditioning device effects precooling and preheating and sends the precooled or preheated air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning device performs the cooling and heating air adjustment for the precooled or preheated air to thereby reduce power consumption.
 22. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second air conditioning device effects precooling and preheating and sends the precooled or preheated air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning device performs the cooling and heating air adjustment for the precooled or preheated air to thereby reduce power consumption.
 23. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second air conditioning device effects precooling and preheating and sends the precooled or preheated air to the first air conditioning device, and the first air conditioning device performs the cooling and heating air adjustment for the precooled or preheated air to thereby reduce power consumption.
 24. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing, all the air conditioning devices being disposed inside the housing.
 25. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing, all the air conditioning devices being disposed inside the housing.
 26. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a housing, all the air conditioning devices being disposed inside the housing.
 27. The hybrid air conditioning apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a housing, all the air conditioning devices being disposed inside the housing. 